The Commission on Elections (Comelec) En Banc is currently studying the case of misrepresentation that is set to be filed against Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
"Pinag-aaralan na po ng miyembro ng [Comelec] En Banc (It's being studied by members of the [Comelec] En Banc)," Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said in a text message.
He has mentioned that the poll body's fact-finding team has found enough basis to file a motu propio election offense case against the local official.
"Sabi ng Law Department namin, dapat kasuhan ng misrepresentation [si Mayor Alice Guo], na base nga sa batas ay kasong kriminal na may kulong na isa hanggang anim na taon (According to our Law Department, a case of misrepresentation against her that under the law is a criminal offense with one to six years imprisonment)," he said in a separate interview.
This was for allegedly committing material misrepresentation in her Certificate of Candidacy (COC) during the May 2022 national and local elections.
“Napatunayan din ng investigation panel na ang lahat ng fingerprints nung anim na tao - dalawa sa National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), isa sa Bureau of Immigration (BI), tatlo sa COC, application for voter registration, at Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) ng Comelec - lahat yan pare pareho at isang tao lang may-ari ng fingerprints na ito (The investigation panel proved that the fingerprints of six people, two from the NBI, the BI, three from the COC, application for voter registration and EDCVL of Comelec--all of them are the same and only one person owns these fingerprints)," he said.
If a court finds her guilty and the decision becomes final and executory, Garcia said that Guo will face perpetual disqualification to hold public office and no pardon can given, even by the President, without Comelec's consent.
"Lesson din po ito sa lahat na hindi porket walang magpa-file sa inyo ng disqualification o cancellation ng candidacy, hindi tayo pwedeng magsinungaling sa ating COC sapagkat pwede kayong habulin ng kasong kriminal, kung hindi man diskwalipikasyon (Let this be a lesson to everyone that just because no one filed a disqualification case or cancellation of candidacy against them, they still cannot lie in their COC because criminal cases can still be filed, if not disqualification)," he said.